Replacement outer headlight - Main/dip unit

[Richard the old one]

I attempted to find a replacement today from a number of auto suppliers and the only source that they came up with was a headlamp manufactured by RING and it has their part number R8731. Its details are given as 5 /3/4 inch High and Low beam (H4) and it seems there are options when it comes to the bulbs 60/55 or 70/75 watts. All the suppliers have to order them in is so I was not able to look at the item so my first question is has anyone fitted this type and was it simple to fit. I have already fitted relays to the extra wattage is not a problem.

My second question is there any alternatives from other manufacturers / suppliers and at what cost.

[Carledo]

Dunno about the Ring headlamps, i've had their spotlamps in various shapes and sizes over the years and IMO the quality is not up to much.

H4 bulbs are available in a number of different wattages from 60/55 to 100/80. According to the C&U regs, 60/55s are the only legal ones. And beam quality seems poor on the higher wattage aftermarket choices IME.

Several of the major triumph suppliers do kits or singles for Halogen conversions on Stag/T2000/Vitesse, these will fit Dolomites. Try Paddocks - or the Lincoln people!

Steve

[sprint95m]

My second question is there any alternatives from other manufacturers / suppliers and at what cost.

There are many.
Following a recommendation by David Walker (the TDC technical advisor) I fitted Jaguar XJ40 headlamps. These Lucas units perform well enough and fit
straight in. Their lenses are flat though. When I bought them about 9 years ago they were easy to find secondhand. Their new cost is eye watering!
They are way better than BMW 7-series of the same era.
In a similar vein, I would stay away from Ford or Italian options.



In the 90s, I used Cibie units but was rather disappointed with these because their lenses dulled quickly (that was after 3 or 4 years).

Car Builder Supplies sell Wipac which seem like a cheaper alternative…..
http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/5 ... side-light
but I have no experience of these.





Ian.

[Jon Tilson]

Ive bought a few of the autopal units which fit well and look good with convex lenses. However as lights they may pass the MoT but
I wouldnt recommend them if you live down a dark country lane and need to actually see anything...

It may be the bulbs, and I have some others to try....

The best dolly lights I ever saw were on SFB. Rush or YellowMiitch spent out an arm and a leg on some Valeo ones, which looked the part with convex lenses and no side lights but had a brilliant beam pattern and meant night driving in confidence.
Mitch had also done a great job on relaying them...

Sadly I didn't note the part number.....

The XJ 40 and X300 lights are pretty good but again are getting scarce on scrappies....

Sorry but my experience of Wipac stuff is not that good. The plastic bowls and mountings they sell are pretty crap tbh.
Ring sealed beams are pretty much like the old unipart ones. Okayish...

If you have OE lucas sealed beams hang on to them...they also work well, or as well as the wiring lets them.

Jonners

[Richard the old one]

I received a pair of Autopal headlights today that I had ordered from Robsport International. They came with Lucas LLB472 Bulbs 12V 60/55W so I am waiting for it to get dark to see what the beams are like.

[Bumpa]

I have bought three sets of Cibie H4 7" lights for other classics I have owned from Europa Spares. I see they also do the smaller lamp needed for twin headlamp use. The drop down box gives options for left or right dip and sidelight or not. they are £58.80 including VAT which might seem expensive, but the Cibie 7" lamp is very superior and those on my MGB are far better than the lamps on my modern VW. I suspect the 5.75" lamp will also be excellent. Here's the link
http://www.europaspares.com/cibie-h4-he ... -inch.html

Personally I wouldn't buy Wipac. I had a pair of Quadoptic lamps once and the reflectors corroded inside two years. The beam control wasn't up to much either.